Author Topic: 4K sales (Read 17416 times)

rod-09 · « **on:** August 24, 2017, 11:30 »

Hi everyone,

I have more then 1000 videos in 4K format and I have never sold one in VB. They sell, but always downscaled to HD. Every single time in the past 2 years as a contributor.

The other 3 agencies (P5, SS and FT) are selling my 4K videos every once in a while...

I wonder what are your experiences selling 4K videos in VB comparing to other agencies?

Best

jjneff · « **Reply #1 on:** August 24, 2017, 11:54 »

I have only sold one twice. Since we get 100% there I would like to see the 4k priced at $150.00

stockmn · « **Reply #2 on:** August 24, 2017, 13:27 »

I've only sold a handful of 4k at VB in the last 1 1/2 years. Sure is nice when it happens tho.

Mantis · « **Reply #3 on:** August 24, 2017, 13:33 »

I have a lot of 4k there too but never one sale. I just dont think the demand is there for 4k yet.

increasingdifficulty · « **Reply #4 on:** August 24, 2017, 14:00 »

I've had one 4k sale at VB. The demand is there but the prices are too high. Especially at VB where people come to save lots of money in the first place. Pricing all 4k clips (from a simple flower that takes 1 minute to make to a complex hyperlapse sequence that might take a week to finish) the same is very strange to me.

Buyers choose 4k over HD much more often where prices are lower.

SpaceStockFootage · « **Reply #5 on:** August 24, 2017, 21:10 »

Is there a site that doesn't sell all 4K clips at the same price, apart from Pond5? I guess 123RF, but there's not many... it's not just VB though.

I've only had one 4K sale at VB since I've been there, compared to 94 HD sales.

stockmarketer · « **Reply #6 on:** August 25, 2017, 00:42 »

A while back I thought it would be smart to future-proof my work and produce everything in 4K. Posted a lot of work at 4K but I don't think I've seen a single 4K sale. So back to 1080p until I see evidence that 4K is in wide demand. It just takes up too much processing time and storage space.

Video-StockOrg · « **Reply #7 on:** August 25, 2017, 00:46 »

We only get some sales of 4K on Pond5. Not that much, but we don't bother about it because it is not yet that popular.

Copidosoma · « **Reply #8 on:** August 25, 2017, 00:54 »

Quote from: stockmarketer on August 25, 2017, 00:42

A while back I thought it would be smart to future-proof my work and produce everything in 4K. Posted a lot of work at 4K but I don't think I've seen a single 4K sale. So back to 1080p until I see evidence that 4K is in wide demand. It just takes up too much processing time and storage space.

Lol.

I think you are missing the point of future proofing.

"I was going to future proof my transportation options by buying an electric car. I went back to the gas car because there wasn't any infrastructure in place to recharge the electric one whenever I wanted."

Mantis · « **Reply #9 on:** August 25, 2017, 08:58 »

Quote from: stockmarketer on August 25, 2017, 00:42

A while back I thought it would be smart to future-proof my work and produce everything in 4K. Posted a lot of work at 4K but I don't think I've seen a single 4K sale. So back to 1080p until I see evidence that 4K is in wide demand. It just takes up too much processing time and storage space.

I shoot everything in 4k and then downsize for sites that do not auto-convert like SS. I don't get it. I don't know why. But SS requires you to upload separate 4k and 1080 files. For me, it is smart business to upload both formats if you have them. You never know when company A absorbs company B, or when 4k gains enough traction that it begins to replace 1080 as the new standard (that's probably inevitable in the near term vs. long term).

Open_ · « **Reply #10 on:** August 25, 2017, 09:35 »

2 last month and 2 this month so far $:-\$

Brightontl · « **Reply #11 on:** August 25, 2017, 10:09 »

Quote from: Mantis on August 25, 2017, 08:58

Quote from: stockmarketer on August 25, 2017, 00:42
A while back I thought it would be smart to future-proof my work and produce everything in 4K. Posted a lot of work at 4K but I don't think I've seen a single 4K sale. So back to 1080p until I see evidence that 4K is in wide demand. It just takes up too much processing time and storage space.

I shoot everything in 4k and then downsize for sites that do not auto-convert like SS. I don't get it. I don't know why. But SS requires you to upload separate 4k and 1080 files. For me, it is smart business to upload both formats if you have them. You never know when company A absorbs company B, or when 4k gains enough traction that it begins to replace 1080 as the new standard (that's probably inevitable in the near term vs. long term).

I don't understand, I always upload only in 4k to SS. Same thing with the other 4 agencies I work.
I don't know any agencies that require separate upload

Noedelhap · « **Reply #12 on:** August 25, 2017, 10:17 »

I've had two 4K sales so far (one in February and one in March this year), but HD sales are much more common.

increasingdifficulty · « **Reply #13 on:** August 25, 2017, 15:02 »

Quote from: Mantis on August 25, 2017, 08:58

But SS requires you to upload separate 4k and 1080 files.

Uhm, no, they don't.

Mantis · « **Reply #14 on:** August 25, 2017, 18:04 »

Quote from: increasingdifficulty on August 25, 2017, 15:02

Quote from: Mantis on August 25, 2017, 08:58
But SS requires you to upload separate 4k and 1080 files.

Uhm, no, they don't.

How long ago did they make that change? I am trying to scrape up the email where they told me I had to upload two separate files. But I do see if I filter on 4k it comes up with an HD option. I would not have communicated with them if that weren't an issue. Anywho, glad to see you can have the best of both worlds.

increasingdifficulty · « **Reply #15 on:** August 25, 2017, 18:09 »

Quote from: Mantis on August 25, 2017, 18:04

I just emailed them and if you want your 4K to be offered in 1080P you have to upload two separate files. That was per their email to me roughly 6 months ago. Perhaps they've changed their technology.

That doesn't make much sense since they've been offering 4k, HD, SD and Web for all clips for a long time now. All of my 4k clips these last 2.5 years have been automatically downsized (to HD, SD and Web).

Mantis · « **Reply #16 on:** August 25, 2017, 18:15 »

Quote from: increasingdifficulty on August 25, 2017, 18:09

Quote from: Mantis on August 25, 2017, 18:04
I just emailed them and if you want your 4K to be offered in 1080P you have to upload two separate files. That was per their email to me roughly 6 months ago. Perhaps they've changed their technology.

That doesn't make much sense since they've been offering 4k, HD, SD and Web for all clips for a long time now. All of my 4k clips these last 2.5 years have been automatically downsized (to HD, SD and Web).

if you filter on hd, your 4k does not show up as an hd option so you have to upload 1080p if you want your work to show up with an hd filter. Thats why you need to upload two versions.

Thomas from France · « **Reply #17 on:** August 25, 2017, 23:49 »

About 4k & hd on shutterstock :

https://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-video/upload-4k-and-hd-seperately-your-thaughts/

https://forums.submit.shutterstock.com/topic/73241-search-bug-on-downscaled-hd-from-4k/

The problem is known by the "tech" team.

sauletas · « **Reply #18 on:** August 26, 2017, 03:40 »

I've had 4 4K video sales on Videoblocks.
Pond5 sell my 4K best because of various pricing.
Shutterstock sell 4K sometimes too. How you understand its 4K sale or some extended license?

I think we need to wait few years for more 4K sales. I hope 4K won't be temporary video format and televisions switch to it worldwide.

increasingdifficulty · « **Reply #19 on:** August 26, 2017, 04:29 »

Quote from: Mantis on August 25, 2017, 18:15

if you filter on hd, your 4k does not show up as an hd option so you have to upload 1080p if you want your work to show up with an hd filter. Thats why you need to upload two versions.

That's indeed true, and stupid... Just like Pond5's price sorting. Well, if they want to burden their servers with trillions of gigabytes of duplicate content, I guess we can provide!

Noedelhap · « **Reply #20 on:** August 28, 2017, 05:13 »

Quote from: Thomas from France on August 25, 2017, 23:49

About 4k & hd on shutterstock :

https://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-video/upload-4k-and-hd-seperately-your-thaughts/

https://forums.submit.shutterstock.com/topic/73241-search-bug-on-downscaled-hd-from-4k/

The problem is known by the "tech" team.

The 'bug' is known for years but they refuse to fix it.

Graiki · « **Reply #21 on:** December 20, 2017, 18:10 »

I just sold a 4K video.

Fantastic!
I'm new to videoblocks and I have about 100 videos.
We'll see if I'll continue to get lucky.

MaZvone · « **Reply #22 on:** December 21, 2017, 03:49 »

I have around 900 videos on market, no sale last 3 months

SpaceStockFootage · « **Reply #23 on:** December 21, 2017, 04:16 »

For me, an average of six sales per month throughout 2017... only one sale so far in December. No 4K though, have only had one of those on there.

Sstr · « **Reply #24 on:** December 22, 2017, 02:32 »

I have almost 4000 clips and zero 4k sales ever on videoblocks...

rod-09 · « **Reply #25 on:** April 10, 2018, 02:28 »

Almost 1 year later since I open the topic with many more videos and still not a single 4K...

They keep selling a lot but downscaled to 1080p.

SuperPhoto · « **Reply #26 on:** April 10, 2018, 08:23 »

I think it will probably be 2-3 years before 4K really takes off. Same with how HD went (although I think that took about 7-8 years).

So, if you shoot in 4k, you'll be 'prepared' for when it becomes popular.

RAW · « **Reply #27 on:** April 10, 2018, 08:46 »

Quote from: Thomas from France on August 25, 2017, 23:49

About 4k & hd on shutterstock :

https://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-video/upload-4k-and-hd-seperately-your-thaughts/

https://forums.submit.shutterstock.com/topic/73241-search-bug-on-downscaled-hd-from-4k/

The problem is known by the "tech" team.

The problem may be known to their tech team but it hasn't been fixed in 4 years.

rod-09 · « **Reply #28 on:** April 11, 2018, 03:42 »

@SuperPhoto

I sell 4K videos with a certain regularity in P5, SS and AS. Videoblocks have NEVER sold a single 4K video in 2 years or more. I have More then 2.100 4K videos in my portfolio...

I don't know what it is, but it sure looks very very strange to me!

increasingdifficulty · « **Reply #29 on:** April 11, 2018, 04:11 »

I have sold a couple of 4k clips at VB (a couple of hundred clips in my portfolio there), but it's been more than a year since the last one.

They market to a crowd of buyers that want, and get, unlimited clips for $199. They aren't too keen on paying $199 for a single clip... Which makes perfect sense.

Would you rather buy your own GH5 or get 10 4k clips? In my opinion, pricing ALL 4k clips at $199 in 2018 is beyond ridiculous.

Let's say I need 50 clips for a 4k project. A nice $9,950. I could just buy TWO GH5s, pay someone to fly around and shoot for a week, including nice hotels, and still save money.

Noedelhap · « **Reply #30 on:** April 11, 2018, 05:41 »

Quote from: increasingdifficulty on April 11, 2018, 04:11

I have sold a couple of 4k clips at VB (a couple of hundred clips in my portfolio there), but it's been more than a year since the last one.

They market to a crowd of buyers that want, and get, unlimited clips for $199. They aren't too keen on paying $199 for a single clip... Which makes perfect sense.

Would you rather buy your own GH5 or get 10 4k clips? In my opinion, pricing ALL 4k clips at $199 in 2018 is beyond ridiculous.

Let's say I need 50 clips for a 4k project. A nice $9,950. I could just buy TWO GH5s, pay someone to fly around and shoot for a week, including nice hotels, and still save money.

You could shoot and edit 50 high quality 4K clips in a week according to your or your client's needs? I think you're overestimating the amount of work that goes into shooting video. What about lighting conditions, weather, technical difficulties? Timelapses also take longer than expected. I think it would take you at least 3-4 weeks, depending on the subject matter of course.

$9,950 isn't cheap, but keep in mind you'd likely do this for a client (who would pay you for the assignment) or you'd get your investment back some other way.

increasingdifficulty · « **Reply #31 on:** April 11, 2018, 06:19 »

Quote from: increasingdifficulty on April 11, 2018, 04:11

In my opinion, pricing ALL 4k clips at $199 in 2018 is beyond ridiculous.

Notice this part in my post?

Keyword: ALL.

My point is that a clip of clouds costs $199, and a clip of a volcanic eruption also costs $199.

No one in their right mind is going to pay $199 for clouds, even if they need clouds. Almost every project uses clouds by the way, as it's one of the most sold subject matters in stock.

But 4k clouds is fixed at $199, so they will simply go somewhere else.

---

And of course it would depend on the project whether 50 clips was doable in a week or not. It was an example, as I'm sure you understood.

I know how long it takes to make an 8-second hyperlapse. I do it all the time. They could sell for $199. I also know that I can make 10 cloud timelapses in a day, and anyone can make them, so they aren't worth more than $40 for 4k.

By the way, $10,000 would be a pretty decent full-time pay for 2 months for most filmers. Let's say 1 month with taxes and expenses.

Wishing well · « **Reply #32 on:** April 13, 2018, 08:14 »

HD still sells better. I sold just a few in 4K. Interesting that I get requests if I got 4K versions of my popular HD clips more and more.

rod-09 · « **Reply #33 on:** May 24, 2018, 02:03 »

Finally got my first 4K sale!!! hallelujah

After almost 3 years...

philfreez · « **Reply #34 on:** May 24, 2018, 03:20 »

sold my first 4k clip on May 17 at Storyblocks,
I have only 100 clips cause I started with footage from december 2017 .
Since december I've sold 7 fullHD clips (not only at Storyblocks), but a 4K sale for 199$ has been a really nice surprise!

pkphotos · « **Reply #35 on:** May 24, 2018, 03:55 »

4K is a myth. 1080 shooting is the only way to go

unnonimus · « **Reply #36 on:** May 24, 2018, 15:25 »

I have had perhaps 15 to 20 4k sales on video blocks. in many cases, they were sold in groups, such as 2 or 3 similar videos in 4k res.

Mantis · « **Reply #37 on:** May 25, 2018, 09:12 »

Never sold a 4K at SB. And the single HD sales are very soft, as I believe, like many of you, that the growth of their member collection is covering many subjects. SB reminds me a "little" of Dissolve. They came in here wanting our work, being very involved in the discussion, and some of us bit, me included. Now, you never hear from them in here because their end game is coming to fruition. Every day suppliers like me helped launch their model, now we are a byproduct.

I think uniqueness is the key there. Everyday stuff like traffic time lapses, clouds, ocean waves, etc are well covered subjects; even drone footage, while cool looking, are more and more common.

Stock is more strategic than ever nowadays. Shoot more unique stuff that is in demand and you can probably progress your income.

StockGuy101 · « **Reply #38 on:** May 27, 2018, 12:53 »

Had two 4Ks last night. Doesn't happen often, but nice when it does.

mindstorm · « **Reply #39 on:** May 27, 2018, 14:55 »

I understand that 4K is "not there yet" for many buyers, who want 1080 instead. However, I still think 4K is "the future" and will eventually become as mainstream as 1080 is today (anyone here around long enough to remember when SD was the mainstream, and 1080 was "the future"?).

So, the question... Can you upload two versions of the clip? One in 4K and one in HD?

Or do the stock agencies automagically reduce the 4K for HD licensing already? (video is still in my own "future," so I am still learning what will work and what won't)

unnonimus · « **Reply #40 on:** May 27, 2018, 16:34 »

most agencies will take the 4k and offer the buyer HD from the 4k for a lower price.

4k is the future, but keep these facts in mind.

once you go over 50mb/s, you are producing video that is of higher quality than almost all forms of use. you will be higher bitrate than DVD, blu ray, satellite tv, cable tv, youtube, etc. so 50mb right now covers you for all uses.

a lot of TV is still SD. however HD is common on laptops, HD still is not universally adopted, even 20 years after introduction.

in the past 20 years, computer displays for most consumers have been near HD or HD. very few people use 4k on their computers. low end computers have problems playing back 4k.

if you film 4k, your videos might still be usable even 20, 30, or 40 or more years from now. filming in 4k is a good idea.

StockGuy101 · « **Reply #41 on:** May 27, 2018, 21:44 »

4K clips also give the buyer more flexibility in an HD edit to re-position or crop the shot without loss in quality.

I think if more buyers would realize that, we'd sell more 4K clips.

SpaceStockFootage · « **Reply #42 on:** May 29, 2018, 06:39 »

Just had my second ever 4K sale there a couple of days ago.

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Author Topic: 4K sales (Read 17416 times)

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